Water conditioner



Aug. 29, 193,9. w. M. CISSELL WATER CONDITIONER Filed Dec. 30, 1955 awe/MM MY/lm M llssell Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED stares rarest OFFIQE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for storing a supply of water and maintaining same at a desired temperature for delivery to the incident boiler or steam generator of the type that 5 is known in the industry as a water conditioner.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an apparatus, which when in service will automatically collect and store hot water con densed from a steam generating and using system, add additional water from a supply source to compensate for the portion which has been used or dissipated, heat and maintain same at a relatively uniform temperature.

Another object is to assemble the apparatus into a self contained unit and thereby dispense with many parts and fittings, together with labor incident to their installation and maintenance,

all of which have been accepted as necessary for providing equipment employed to collect and 20 store a water supply at proper temperatures for a steam generator, all without sacrificing the functions of the abondoned elements.

A further object resides in fashioning, proportioning and corelating the constituent parts so as to salvage heat units which are normally dissipated and heretofore regarded as unavoidable losses.

With the foregoing and other objects, which will be revealed as the description of the details of the construction proceeds and hereinafter claimed, it must be understood that variations from the embodiment of my invention, selected for illustration and disclosure, can be indulged without departing from the scope of my invention.

Figure 1 is a cross sectional side elevational view of my water conditioner together with a valve chamber or housing in which is mounted an automatic float controlled valve shown prin- 40 cipally in elevation and indicated as being connected to a fresh water source of supply.

Fig. 2 is a modification, on an enlarged scale, of the air duct and the atmospheric vent forming an indispensable part of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a further modification of the air vent of Fig. l as well as indicating a practical location for same, other than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This figure is on a somewhat larger scale drawing.

Structure Numeral I indicates a tank, which is divided into chambers II and I2 by means of partition I3 which is indicated as being composed of two disks I3I, I32, spaced to provide compartment I33. The dash-dot line designated by A, A is to indicate a selected water level for chamber I2, while the level for chamber II can widely fluctuate in terms thereof, however, the level of the latter chamber tends to seek the A, A level. Numeral It indicates a duct having an elevated opening MI in chamber I2 and a low opening I42 in chamber II, and without involving compartment 533. The twochambers are also connected by a duct indicated by numeral I5 which is equipped with valve I52 for the purpose of effecting or maintaining relative pressures between said chambers, in terms of normal atmospheric pressure. Chambers ii, I2 are further connected through duct I63 with opening I92 located above the water line in I 2, while opening IIlI is placed a few inches above the bottom of compartment which is normally below the water line. This duct functions to convey air or vapor, referred to hereinafter as gas, from chamber II to IE when the latter is normally full and the water level in the former chamber is sufficiently lowered to expose opening I [ll Numeral I8 is a pipe line equipped with a strainer disposed internally of this last mentioned chamber and is connected to a pump, injector, or other device for delivering conditioned water to a boiler or steam generator.

It will be noted that chamber I2 is of materially less capacity than the other chamber and is utilized for receiving cold water from a supply source via pipe line and is under control of an automatic float controlled valve indicated by 2!, the full details of which are not illustrated as it forms no part of this invention, however, it can be understood to be the same or substantially the equivalent of the inlet valve embraced by United States Patent No. 1,628,654, which was granted to this applicant.

Valve 2| is connected to housing 22 of compartment 22I by pipe 23. This housing is detachably mounted on tank It by means of bolts 24, and is assembled as a unit, i. e., ball float 25 is carried on lever 26 which is pivotally mounted to housing 22 by arm 21 while valve rod 28 abuts the end 29 of lever 26. Bafiie or deflector 222 is secured to housing 22 and is provided to direct any surging or spraying of water, as it leaves valve 2i, downward toward the bottom of chamber I2. It will be noted from the cross hatching and full lines that the top section is closed and that the. lowerarea is opened, this can be arranged according to judgment, and must provide clearance for lever 26.

In Fig. 2, vent I6I is shown consolidated with air vent I5. There are conditions under which this structure can be used to advantage. Figure 3 shows a section of the partition walls I3I, I32, which have been opened to receive duct I5I which is equipped with valve I52- It is to be understood this valve or its equivalent can be organized to be effective for a complete or only a partial stoppage in one direction and open or only a partial stoppage in the other direction. The selection to be exercised according to local conditions and desired objectives.

Operation This apparatus is constructed and organized to collect condensed steam in the form of hot water, add renewal supply of new water, raise the temperature and store same for use in a steam generator as adverted at the outset, particularly adapted for use in a modern laundry Where a material portion of the generated steam is dispensed into the atmosphere.

When this water conditioner, arranged as shown in Fig. 1, is first put into service, Valve 2| is open and admits a fresh supply of water through pipes 20 and 23 until chambers II and I2 have been filled to a selected level indicated by line A and controlled by float 25. As water enters chamber I2 and then chamber II via duct I4, air passes from I2 passing valve I52, to II via duct I5 (air also similarly passes through duct I03 when the former is first being put into commission) and is forced out of vent I6 into the atmosphere. It must be noted that valve I52 prevents gas from passing into chamber I2 which is normally sealed. Hot water for use in the steam generator which serves the system to which this water former is connected is pumped from chamber II through outlet I8. As additional or new water is required it will be supplied through valve 2| and its associated members to replace the quantity used or lost. As water is drawn from chamber II below the organized level in chamber I2 a small quantity of water will be drawn from the latter which is normally at level A, A, through conduit I4 via mouth ,I4I and exit I42 thereby tending to establish a balance between the weight of the water and the increasing vacuum chamber I2, since this chamber is now sealed until sufiicient water has been drawn from chamber II to expose opening ml of duct I03 when gas from chamber II will immediately flow therethrough and into chamber I2, thereby relieving the partial vacuum which in turn allows the upper strata of warm water to gravitate through duct I4 and supply the demands of the system as water is pumped through duct I8. When this occurs there is a rapid rush of warm water which is of short duration since water passing from I2 to II through I4 will soon close opening IOI. As the water level lowers the feed valve 2I admits fresh water, the warm water lodged in the bottom of chamber I2 will be gradually forced upwardly by the incoming cold water, and thereby prepare same to flow from duct I4 when needed in chamber II. It should be noted that the warmest water is stored above mouth MI and that it is the first to leave chamber I2. When there is a sudden rush of cold water from valve 2I, baflle 222 is provided to subdue same into a gentle flow from compartment 22I along the near vertical wall of compartment I2onto;the bottom of same where it forces the accummulated warmer water to the upper strata, thereby preventing cold water from flowing directly out of the water former via outlet I8. Thus, it will be noted that cold water is not fed into chamber II and that provision is made to maintain the latter at a substantial uniform temperature.

As the steam has been used in the system to which the generator is connected, condensed and released, it is returned to chamber II via inlet I'I. This return is frequently accompanied by a rush occasioned by released steam which results in violent surging within chamber II. It will be noted that uncondensed steam reaching chamber II will be released through vent I6 and that the action resulting from the violent surging is localized by reason of partition I3 which, even when the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is employed, as only a very small proportion of its area is opened by the duct I4 and vent I5. Thus it will be perceived that fioat 25 and valve 2I are completely and continually protected from said violent disturbance, the result being a greatly increased life for these parts than would be the case if they were exposed to the direct action of the discharged steam and condensed water, and further these parts are kept at relatively low or normal temperatures which is conducive to dependability and constant service.

As the temperature of the contents of chamber II rises there will be a transfer of heat through partition I3 and the walls of tank I0. The amount of heat transferred can be controlled by consolidating the partition into a unit or spacing the walls I3I, I32 of the partition and provide thereby an air chamber I33 which can be vented (not shown) according to local conditions or desired objectives.

As a matter of selection or further control of the heat exchange or for any other desired cause the chambers II and I2 can be independent integral units connected by the equivalents of ducts I4, I03 and vent I5. And further under some conditions, as when the vapor escaping from vent I6 contains sufiiciently high heat units, this vent can be connected to a heat exchanger associated with apparatus for conveying and/or storing the cold water.

Although, as adverted at the outset, my invention as disclosed herein is primarily for use as a water conditioner, it is applicable for other purposes. The structure can be modified and substitutions of major or minor parts can be effected to transfer the basic principles to other arts involving an automatic liquid control without departing from the spirit of my invention, therefore I wish to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A water conditioner for supplying hot water to a steam generator comprising a tank divided into a hot water chamber and a cold water chamber by a common partition; said cold water chamber having a valved vent, preventing ingress of gas, a source of water supplied thereto under pressure and automatically controlled in response to a water level established therein; said hot water chamber having a vent to atmosphere, an inlet for the return of condensed steam, an outlet for connection to a pump for withdrawing and delivering hot' Water to said steam generator; said chambers being interconnected by an open water conveying duct extending from a relatively high level in the cold water chamber to a substantially lower level in the hot Water chamber; said chambers also being interconnected by an open gas conveying tube extending from the top section of the cold water chamber to the lower section of the hot water chamber carrying gas from the hot water chamber to the other chamber only when the water level of the last said chamber falls below the lower opening of said tube.

2. A water conditioner for supplying hot water to a steam generator comprising a hot water chamber and a cold water chamber disposed at substantially the same level; said cold water chamber having a valved vent and a source of water supplied thereto under pressure and automatically controlled in response to a Water level established therein; said hot water chamber having a vent to atmosphere, an inlet for the return of condensed steam, an outlet for connection to a pump for withdrawing and delivering hot water to said steam generator, said chambers being interconnected by an open water conveying duct extending from a relatively high level in the cold water chamber to a substantially lower level in the hot Water chamber; said chambers also being interconnected by an open gas conveying tube extending from the top section of the cold water chamber to the lower section of the hot water chamber and carrying gas from the hot water chamber to the other chamber only when the water level of the last said chamber falls below the opening of said tube.

3. A water conditioner for supplying hot water to a steam generator comprising a hot Water chamber and a cold water chamber disposed at substantially the same level; said cold Water chamber having a valved vent and means receiving and controlling water supplied thereto under pressure; said hot water chamber having a vent to atmosphere, an inlet for the return of condensed steam, an outlet for connection to a pump for withdrawing and delivering hot water to said steam generator, said chambers being interconnected by an open water conveying duct extending from a relatively high level in the cold water chamber to a substantially lower level in the hot water chamber; said chambers also being interconnected by an open gas conveying tube extending from the top section of the cold water chamber to the lower section of the hot water chamber and carrying gas from the hot water chamber to the other chamber only when the water level of the last said chamber falls below the opening of said tube.

WILLIAM M. CISSELL. 

